Foothill Unity Center equips needy children for school at Santa Anita Park

ARCADIA - Santa Anita Park was buzzing with activity Thursday as Foothill Unity Center and its cadre of sponsors and volunteers were scheduled to help as many as 1,818 needy students get ready for school.

"This event helps children not only be ready to go back to school but to feel good about themselves because everyone at the event treats the children with love and dignity," said Joan E. Whitenack, the center's executive director. "They go ... completely ready to start school, and they are very excited and that's a beautiful thing to see that many children that happy."

In addition to getting fresh haircuts and manicures, students from K-12 picked out new backpacks, received school uniforms or clothing, underwear, socks and school supplies.

Each child also received a shoe gift card from the Tzu Chi Foundation, a new book from Monrovia Reads and dental and vision screenings from the USC School of Dentistry and the Western University College of Optometry.